No access to drives and No Internet on VPN access - Windows Server 2012

macally

macally

macally

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I have set up a network for a friend (with a lot of help from people on this forum so thanks for that). The network includes a HP ML110 G6 Quad Xeon Server running Windows Server 2012 Essentials, 2 Desktop PC's and a number of Laptops.

At the weekend, I managed to get the Access Anywhere (VPN and Remote Desktop) working and can now log onto the server from home, however, when connected via VPN, I seem to have a couple of issues.

1. When connected via VPN to remote.domain.co.uk, I cannot see the remote server in Computer > Network (on Windows 7 Pro) and any shared folders/drives are unavailable with red crosses in them - trying to access them gives me an error message.

2. When connected via VPN to remote.domain.co.uk, I cannot access the Internet. The network connections show my wifi as 'Internet Access' and the VPN as 'No Internet'. Any attempt to access the Internet results in page cannot be displayed.

The main one I need to get working is the drive access, but any help/advice regarding both issues would be extremely helpful.
 
Can you ping the fileserver?
What happens if you browse to the IP via UNC eg \\192.168.1.1 or \\remote.domain.co.uk
 
Something to check for 2:

When you create a PPTP VPN connection on Windows 7 (and any other flavour I think) it will be configured to use the default gateway on the remote site - when all is working OK, this means your outgoing internet is tunnelled via the remote gateway (i.e. via the server). If it's all set up OK, then usually this means slow internet as everything is traversing the VPN link, but in your case you have none at all which suggests other issues at the server end.

To resolve 2), have a look through the properties of the VPN connection:

Networking tab > select IPv4 option, click Properties > click Advanced > Untick "Use default gateway on remote network".

This should get you back your internet when the VPN connection is up and running - it will no longer be traversing the VPN link.

I'm presuming you're using a PPTP VPN connection for all of the above of course...!
 
Nikumba said:
Yes
Click to expand...

Unable to ping the server when connected via VPN

jameshurrell said:
Something to check for 2:

When you create a PPTP VPN connection on Windows 7 (and any other flavour I think) it will be configured to use the default gateway on the remote site - when all is working OK, this means your outgoing internet is tunnelled via the remote gateway (i.e. via the server). If it's all set up OK, then usually this means slow internet as everything is traversing the VPN link, but in your case you have none at all which suggests other issues at the server end.

To resolve 2), have a look through the properties of the VPN connection:

Networking tab > select IPv4 option, click Properties > click Advanced > Untick "Use default gateway on remote network".

This should get you back your internet when the VPN connection is up and running - it will no longer be traversing the VPN link.

I'm presuming you're using a PPTP VPN connection for all of the above of course...!
Click to expand...

Thanks, I tried this and it doesn't solve the internet problem - the VPN connection was created automatically by the Windows Server 2012 Essentials http://servername/Connect wizard.
 
liamcrane said:
Hi Macally I take it when your trying to VPN to the new network from a remote location your are on a different subnet?
Click to expand...

Have just checked ipconfig...

On my home network, my network settings are:

IP Address: 192.168.1.x
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1

On the LAN I'm trying to VPN to, my network settings are:

IP Address: 192.168.1.x
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1

When I connect the VPN connection, it connects with the following settings:

IP Address: 192.168.1.115
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway: EMPTY
 
That's your problem mate, you cant VPN to a network that is running the same subnet. If you we're to change your home network subnet settings on your home router to be 192.168.2.1 you should be able to connect to the VPN fine.

A good test I always try is if you have an iPhone or smart phone that has a VPN function enable it and try to connect to the remote VPN over 3G not wifi as your 3G network will be on a different sub

Let me know how you get on pal
 
Yea it would be mate, I only suggested changing the home sub just to see if you could connect now. I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong though :p
 
Have just tried this...

Home network:
IP Address: 192.168.2.81
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.2.1

On the LAN I'm trying to VPN to, my network settings are:

IP Address: 192.168.1.x
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1

When I connect the VPN connection, it STILL connects with the following settings:

IP Address: 192.168.1.115
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway: EMPTY
 
I also meant to mention, when connected to the VPN, even though the Internet doesn't work (unless following jameshurrel's advice), I can still RDP to the server and the remote.domain.co.uk website still loads.
 
Seems like something is not setup right at the other end mate. My network skills are kinda basic in all honestly. When you try and access the Internet and get the page error can you browse to a local IP address through the web URL? If you can it Seems like dns might not be being passed to your local machine from the remote end. If you right click your VPN connection and go to propities then networking and select tcp ip4 then properties again and set the primary and secondary dns to google which is 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 try the Internet connection when connected to the VPN now and see if it will resolve any websites
 
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No worries...thanks for all your help so far.

When the page doesn't load, I can still access my home router via the IP address.

When I try manually setting the DNS as you suggested, it makes no difference :(
 
I hate it when things like this happen lol my brain just won't engage! It's something very simple I'm sure but I can't for the life of me think why it's doing what it is. I have my home VPN setup on my router so it's as simple as connecting to my router remotely then using rdp to which ever machine I want to access. I take it you don't have a VPN server option on your router at the remote location?

I have only just started playing with server 2012 myself the last 2 days so I'll install the VPN roles on the server and have a play around with it myself. I just run windows 7 at the mo
 
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liamcrane said:
I hate it when things like this happen lol my brain just won't engage! It's something very simple I'm sure but I can't for the life of me think why it's doing what it is. I have my home VPN setup on my router so it's as simple as connecting to my router remotely then using rdp to which ever machine I want to access. I take it you don't have a VPN server option on your router at the remote location?

I have only just started playing with server 2012 myself the last 2 days so I'll install the VPN roles on the server and have a play around with it myself. I just run windows 7 at the mo
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. RDP works no problem, it's just the VPN side that's not working...Server 2012 Essentials is meant to be all automated for setting the VPN access but obviously something's not worked correctly.

I'm not aware of a VPN server option on the router, it's a TP-Link TD-W8960N.

The only thing I could think of is the server seems to be using the DNS and DHCP on the TP-Link router rather than acting as the DNS & DHCP server itself - would this have any bearing?
 
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